A Stearman crashed yesterday during the Dayton Air Show, killing wing walker Jane Wicker and pilot Charlie Schwenker.

Some are saying the plane was stalling out. Stearmans can fly really slow, and he was almost wings level so I don't think it was stalling. He was headed slightly into the flight line, but not bad enough that it couldn't be corrected with some rudder as he worked toward wings level. However, it looks like he reversed the ailerons pretty drastically. For what reason, I have no clue.

Youtube link to crash:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vb6kywg0dI

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Having had to deal with many deaths in automobile racing over the past 4+ decades and seen the changes in cause from mechanical failure/driver error to medical, and looking at that video, it follows the pattern of a pilot medical incident, i.e., heart attack, stroke or seizure.

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Peter Olivola
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That's exactly what I was thinking after studying the control surface movements and his flying style in another video with extra footage. He had been slow and smooth all along until the instant he jerked opposite aileron.

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Looks to me like something broke, perhaps an aileron control cable.

Very sad.

Lost Allan Simonsen at Le Mans yesterday in a crash in his Aston Martin, too.

Aircraft aerobatics and automobile racing.

Dangerous stuff.

Allen

Can you post the link to this other video you found?

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Scott D. Hansen
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Kinda my feeling. Seeing as the control systems were probably 'under tension' at the time, and the extreme suddenness of the control change, it could indicate a cable break. But, then again as mentioned by Tim and Pete, certainly a 'medical event' could not be ruled out either.

Terribly sad, whatever the cause.


Earl

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Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
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Here's another angle, and it goes up to 720p.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euax96KvLQE

I don't think it's a control failure. I downloaded and watched the 720p video and looked at the ailerons closely. A failure at the stick would make the ailerons all want to equalize instead of deflecting opposite. All four ailerons deflected opposite and stayed there, so I think there was force on the stick.

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Agree with tbzep. A cable failure would never cause the ailerons to snap over to a full stop deflection.
Although mamby-pamby safety beatniks would FOOLISHLY disagree, life without DANGER would be extremely BORING.
Danger=Thrill=Adrenaline Rush=Excitement=Worthwhile activity.

Unfortunately, sometimes the demons win when one pushes the envelope.

I'm sure within 5 years some safetyTARD will be pushing for mandatory helmet use by all automobile occupants.

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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !

I've seen a few recent fatalities via broken neck on adults where seatbelts and airbags did all they could do, preventing other injuries that might be life threatening. The HANS device might not be far behind the helmet.

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It's ridiculous.
Safety choices should be INDIVIDUAL decisions for oneself and family, NOT the mandate of ANY stinkin-a$$ gubmint entity.
Those utopian mamby-pamby safety-at-all-cost WIMPS/WEENIES represent exactly what is WRONG with our country. Sissification at it's worst.

The insurance companies just need to shut their STINKIN' TRAPS, and PAY THE CLAIMS !!!!
Life involves risk and danger. People need to just suck it up and deal with it instead of always trying to force change on everyone.

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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !